Alexander Shlemenko to fight Brennan Ward for middleweight title at Bellator 114

According to a Jan. 15 post fromMMA Junkie, Alexander "Storm" Shlemenko (49-7 MMA, 10-1 BMMA) will put his Bellator middleweight title belt and twelve-fight win streak on the line against fast-rising knockout artist Brennan "The Irish Bad Boy" Ward (9-1 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) on March 28 from Utah’s Maverik Center at Bellator 114.

“I saw Brennan Ward in the last tournament, he was impressive,” Shlemenko stated. “But he is a young fighter, while I have experience on my side. My experience will be my strongest weapon in this fight.”

"The Irish Bad Boy" is looking forward to bringing the belt back to the United States.

The event will also feature the Bellator return of Utah’s own Rad Martinez, who fights Edson Berto in a featherweight battle.

Martinez plans to retire from MMA competition following the event, even if he comes away victorious.

“I like to think I’ve had a pretty good career and as I’m getting older, I’ve got a beautiful wife and a daughter on the way, the time is right to walk away and focus on being a husband and a father,” Martinez said. “The time was right to walk away while I still have my health, and to be a fantastic father and husband. It means so much to me that Bellator would give me my last fight in Utah so I can have a sendoff in front of all my friends and family. Bellator has treated me so well through my career, and I’m incredibly proud to have my last fight in the Bellator cage.”

More information will be made available in the coming weeks on Bellator 114. The main card will air live on Spike TV, following a stacked preliminary card that will stream live and free on Spike.com.